Chapter 7:
The tracking device Sark placed in Syd's car led him to the secluded cabin the northern woods. He sat patiently waiting, watching. He watched as Vaughn got into his car and drove away. He had not been surprised to see Vaughn take such a big risk to see her. After all, he would have done the same thing. What surprised Sark was that Vaughn hadn't stayed long. Sark felt nothing but hatred for Michael Vaughn. He would have liked nothing better than to step from the shadows and put a bullet into his head. He resisted the temptation. He would deal with Vaughn soon enough.
He waited for Vaughn's tail lights to disappear before reaching into his jacket pocket to retrieve his cell phone. He dialed, put the phone to his hear and waited for an answer. On the third ring a sleepy female voice answered.
"Hello?" she answered. Her sleepiness made her British accent heavy.
"Did I wake you?" Sark asked smoothly.
"Are you crazy?! What are you doing calling me at this number? What if Michael had answered the phone?" Lauren asked as she sat up in bed, looking at the clock. It read 11:24 P.M.
"Relax. Tell me, do you know where your husband is at this very moment?"
"I really don't want to play games. It's late." She sighed, frustrated.
"I just asked you a simple question." Sark said innocently.
"Michael is with his friend, Eric. He called and said something about his girlfriend breaking up with him, and that he need someone to talk to."
"Wrong. Would you care to guess again?" He waited for her reply. When none came he continued.
"No? Ok then, I'll tell you. Your beloved husband just left a safe house where he was visiting an old friend. Someone, I'm sure, you'd be very interested in."
"And who would that be?" Lauren said sarcastically.
" My wife." Sark replied. A sadistic smile spread across his face. He never tired of hearing Sydney being referred to as his wife.
Lauren had been shocked by what she had just heard. Sydney's back and Michael had been to see her. Suddenly, all her hark work and preparation over the past two years were being threatened.
"How can this be? I thought your plan to keep Sydney under your control was fool proof?"
"She has a stronger will than I would have imagined. But not to worry. Plans have already been made to correct this little problem." Sark reassured her.
"I don't see how you could call this a little problem. Do you think she has begun to remember anything?"
"I have no way of knowing yet." Sark replied. "In order for me to get her back before she does, I need for you to continue to distract Vaughn. Sydney's feelings for him could cause a huge threat to our future plans."
"Distracting Michael when he thought Sydney was dead was hard enough. I can't imagine what it'll be like now that he knows she is alive. He loves her still. I think his feelings for her will pose a bigger threat to us." Lauren said. She was now pacing her bedroom.
"That is why I need to move quickly. I'll stay in contact with you and keep informed of what I mean to do once I'm able to retrieve Sydney. Until then, just keep up pretenses Mrs. Vaughn. You'll do fine." With that, Sark hung up.
Lauren hung up. She nervously pushed back her hair and went into the bathroom to splash cold water on her face. As she was drying off her face, she heard the familiar sound of Michael's car as it was being pulled into the driveway. A few seconds later she heard the grinding sound of the garage door being opened. She hurried and jumped back into bed just as Michael walked into the house, quietly shutting the door leading from the garage.
Vaughn locked the door behind him and hung his keys up on the key holder. He managed to tip toe quietly to the bedroom and with turning on any lights, undressed and got into bed. Thank god she's asleep. He thought thankfully. He doubted he would have been able to hide the horrific events of the night on his face if she'd been awake.
Vaughn slipped under the covers and spooned up to Lauren's warm body. She responded by pushing her back up against his and moaning softly. He put his arms around her and nuzzled his face in her hair. When he closed his eyes, all her could see was Sydney's face laced with the pain of seeing his wedding ring. The thought kept him awake.